After a disappoint few years at the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Atlanta expo, I opted to pay a few bucks and have my race packet mailed to me. Since there is no race morning pickup, my choices were like $12 to have my stuff delivered to my doorstep or drive 45 minutes downtown, pay $10+ to park, walk to the expo and around the expo for 10 minutes then drive 45 minutes home. It was well worth my money and time to do packet mailing instead. My friends that went to the "expo" said that I really didn't miss much except a few chocolate samples.
We pre-purchased parking at one of the recommended garages by the race and it was an easy-peasy entrance into the garage. We got there just around 6:30am even with a massive wreck on the interstate that delayed us for 45 minutes. We headed out of the car a bit before 7:00 to head to use the restroom (yay for indoor bathrooms at the World Congress Center) and walk to the start line.
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Today's race had a 15K and 5K. There were two waves of corrals (determined by your estimated pace). All of the 15K runners started in the first wave of corrals (along with some 5K) which the second wave was entirely 5K.
Each corral went off about 3 minutes after the last one, so our wait wasn't too long for corral B. The volunteers did a great job monitoring the corrals to make sure you were in your specific wave/corral as the first corrals were "preferred corrals" that required specific paces (and proof of time)...however some had total lack of respect and human decency and physically shoved their way through.
Each corral went off about 3 minutes after the last one, so our wait wasn't too long for corral B. The volunteers did a great job monitoring the corrals to make sure you were in your specific wave/corral as the first corrals were "preferred corrals" that required specific paces (and proof of time)...however some had total lack of respect and human decency and physically shoved their way through.
The first half of a mile or so was a little congested as the 5K and 15K runners all started together (and the for the reason I just discussed). With the most of the first half of a mile being straight up hill, a lot of people fell off fast. We lost a lot of the crowd at this point as the crowd was about 50/50 between the two distances.
Our course the Hot Chocolate 15K would have goodies on course for you. At certain water stations, sweet treats like marshmallows or chocolate morsels were ready for you. Just a word of advice, if you aren't used to something, don't try it on race day.
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 Credit: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K |  Credit: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K |
Now it was time for what we came here for - CHOCOLATE! I headed over to the Finisher Mug area to redeem our bib tag for our chocolate reward. The process went super smoothly and once again the volunteers were beyond amazing. They were smiling and happily passing out the chocolate and giving you all the cheers!
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Here it is folks - our finisher mug reward! Hot chocolate (yes, it was nice and hot), fondue, and various dipping fixin's (banana, marshmallows, Rice Krispy, cookies, and pretzels) - it was all amazingly good.
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Check this out - Hot Chocolate 5K/15K doesn't do race shirts they give out jackets. Seriously - how many race shirts just end up in a drawer only to be worn a handful of times (if that). This is my 7th Hot Chocolate 5K/15K race and their race swag is always great! These zippered hoodies are legit and totally nice and toasty! This will definitely get its fair share of wear!
Credit: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K
Thank you again to the team at Hot Chocolate 5K/15K, volunteers, and emergency personnel that made this morning possible for us. I really appreciate all that you did to make the morning great. See ya next year for my 9th year!
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